Isolation by distance, gene flow and phylogeography in the Proasellus coxalis-group (Crustacea, Isopoda) in Central Italy: Allozyme data

Fifteen populations belonging to the Proasellus coxalis-group were surveyed for genetic variation at 19 enzymatic loci in order to clarify the degree of genetic structuring of this species at the scale of Central Italy. With Neighbour-Joining analysis, it was possible to identify two main clusters, the first grouping populations sampled in coastal areas of Central Italy, the second comprising several populations from inland areas of the Apennines. In the first group, genetic relationships follow a geographic scheme, with populations arranged according to the proximity of the collecting sites. The inland populations have less clear geographic relationships and a higher degree of genetic differentiation. In view of the paleogeography of the study areas, I hypothesise a more recent penetration of this taxon into the Central Italian alluvial coastal plains (subjected to cyclical marine ingressions during the Quaternary) from sources of colonisation in the inland areas. The higher genetic differentiation of the inland populations presumably reflects a longer evolutionary history and could be explained by the periodic fragmentation of river catchments during Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Such an evolutionary scenario is supported by F-statistics analyses. Effective dispersal of individuals between populations can be hypothesised for the coastal populations but not for the inland ones. On the whole, there is a pattern of isolation by distance, but a large amount of gene flow seems to reflect historical rather than ongoing gene exchange.